For November, we had a wonderful drive though California’s Gold Country along our historic (what else?) Highway 49. And, after passing such historic towns such as Jackson, Mokelumne Hill, and Angel’s Camp, we stopped at an unusual place known my people for over 12,000 years.
Moaning Caverns has some fossilized remains of someone who either could not get out or decided to call the bottom of the vertical shaft 165’ home.
It ends with a 100’ spiral staircase built in the 1920s for tourists.
We were told by the guide that one could fit the entire Statue of Liberty inside this shaft.
We then drove to the more recent Ironstone Vineyards where, besides making award-winning wine, have a fascinating museum dedicated to California’s gold rush history. Among the displays was their “crown jewel”, the world’s largest crystalline gold nugget at 44 lbs. And it was only found in the 1990s!
I’d like to thank host David Michael for making this tour possible.
